'Naruto' and 'Naruto Shippuden' are the property of Masashi Kishimoto and TV Tokyo.

Check out the Glossary at the end of each chapter for detailed terms.

(Re-edited chapter)

PROSPECT

PostCounterClockwise

The world remembers me. History will frame me as a victim, paint me as a rebel but portray me as a warrior. Now? People immortalise me for their own agenda but most just want me dead. Yet I have always said memory is like looking through a dark and dirty window in the rain. Shadowy recall is riddled with inaccuracy. It can never be mirror image. There will always be a level of scepticism in my story, a corrosion eating away the edge of reality.

That doesn't mean I shouldn't tell it. This is my flawed testament. This is my shallow beginnings.

One

I clung to the bar for precious life, avoiding the peripheral landmines I called 'co-workers'.

"Sakura!"

My name was being called over a bass line that could bring me out of a coma. I abandoned the cool metallic lines of the bar to dodge through the heated crowd. Boss Matsuda would be watching and I had to push down the panic.

"Where'd she go!?"

Sometimes I wondered what I was still doing in Enoch(1) but when my shift was over those city streets never did look as appealing. Squeezing off the dance floor I tripped over a just hideous shoe. I had never seen such sacrilege.

"We've been looking for you," was bleated in my ear. "Boss wants you in the cradle."

I straightened up, looking past the offending hoof to his not-worth-remembering face. Blinking dumbly at the innocent smile I had armed myself with.

"Really?" I lied sweetly, "I had no idea."

The cradle was snug between the VIP bar and the back and always impossibly dark and quiet. Wires wrapped around the entire room, overlapping and bypassing. Despite the eerie glow, I had always liked the gentle hum.

Naturally Boss Matsuda spent most of his time here hanging from the rafters.

"And once again the smart girl is incredibly stupid."

I could make out his thick neck and coarse greying hair over the leather. Keen eyes set on the monitors in front of him. He thought he was really something, Boss Matsuda. Being a warlord does that to a man I guess. Although Enoch was under democratic rule nobody could ignore the dim shadow this man cast over the East side.

His gravelly voice continued, "You know no one gets past that door unless I authorize it."

I almost rolled my eyes because if he was going brag about his superior security system from the outside world, I had somewhere else to be.

"Sorry Boss Matsuda," I tried "I have an exam at-"

"The doors to this office cannot be penetrated in anything less than 18 hours," he cut off sounding almost smug and I sighed. He did feel like bragging. Most of all though he needed someone to behave as the audience he sorely desired. A role I had been playing since fifteen.

"Anyone would think with all these precautions," I said carefully "that you have something to hide."

His laugh had always reminded me of a clap of thunder. It was something brutal like the face he turned on me, shadows creeping into each crevice, every wrinkle and upper lip curled back in dire amusement.

"You never seize to amaze me," he said vaguely. Then the half smile fell and eyes hardened, "Finally civilization is able to control its biological destiny and they are running scared? Hiding behind their precious ethics, crushing the substance of dreams with trivial morality… too weak to step over the threshold to greatness…"

He stood sharply almost knocking his chair over.

"We do not hide in this city Sakura! The wall was not built to keep the heathens in; it was built to keep those dictators out!"

I was unflinching at the outburst. Hardly anyone would describe him as a passionate man, but they didn't know him like I did. He was always telling me Enoch was rotting but insisted the outside world was nothing but wasteland. The same amused expression etched upon his face once again, "But yes, as you were saying, I suppose there is now something worth hiding. You're an educated woman. I find them to be the most appreciative."

I didn't like the look in his eyes.

"You will be back here in 8 hours," he ordered.

"But I'm not shifted on until Tuesday!" I retorted hotly. He was unbelievable calling me into the cradle for simple roster stuff. "Not that I wouldn't say no to more shifts but-"

"I'm not just talking about behind the bar Sakura," he said with a knowing sneer. "I'm talking about bearing witness."

I frowned in confusion. "Bearing witness to what exactly?"

He didn't answer and I had no idea what he meant. What was he hiding? Then it hit me.

"Where are you going?"

I couldn't let anything distract me. No matter what he was up to, it was none of my concern. I had more important things to focus on.

I replied, "I have an appointment with G.O.D."

When I was little, one well placed sterilized band-aid could make anything better. I had been the biggest cry baby. The sight of my own blood, a disappointed sigh from my father or the absence of a happily ever after could all bring me to tears. But the second I slapped on that adhesive bandage, that cold and unwanted feeling was replaced with warm buttery goodness.

"You are the top 0.2 percent in the country; the city of Enoch's finest. So I do not need to remind you that this is the opportunity of a lifetime."

This is what G.O.D.(2) meant to me, it was like one giant, sterilized band-aid.

"This coveted position will offer paid internship within G.O.D."

I had been dreaming of a job as a doctor here since I was twelve. I looked away from the lecturing white coat to the test screen in front of me. There were six of us. After this exam there would be two but I was more than ready.

However, the mousy-brown haired boy next to me was anything but. He gave a violent twitch and it was obvious he hadn't gotten any sleep. I exhaled taking in the whitewash walls, the pristine floor and the almost nauseating smell of antiseptics. G.O.D. was so bright, so pure. Unlike the darkness of the club I left. This was where I truly belonged.

"Good luck," the proctor said smoothly. "And begin."

Which rheumatologic disorder has been associated with L-tryptophan vitamins?

It clicked quickly, Eosinophilic Myalgia Disorder. I had it all figured out. An average 45 seconds per question for an hour and a half exam. I had excelled with 4 remaining questions and 6 minutes left on the clock. G.O.D offered no preparation, no indication of what we would be tested on. It had been all too much for Nervous Boy when he left 17 minutes in. Suffering through his heavy breathing and whimper in response to each new question had been worth it. My dreams chances were now two in five.

Before I could start the next question my eyes darted to the door when it burst open. A man stumbled in and collapsed making me leap to my feet. All I could think; was this part of the test?

The guy pulled himself up, kept his head down and began to crawl. Something in my mind snapped like a cheap rubber band. Why wasn't I rushing over there? Why wasn't I helping him? There was someone in trouble, gasping and suffering.

But ultimately my competition wasn't moving, maybe not even giving him a glance as they feverishly answered question after question. There was an upper hand and I was losing it. The exam meant everything. It meant more than everything. I sunk back to my seat when he hoisted himself into Nervous Boy's vacant chair. Two more answers had me looking over to the panting mess besides me, only to realise he was no mess at all.

He was state of the art. A prominent jaw line and a flawless face with a demanding sense of exact symmetry. Possessing such raw asexuality any gender (or half gender) would deem him attractive. His parents must have paid a fortune. No way was anyone born that perfect.

He turned on me and quickly I doubted everything. The eyes were a disaster. A truly blank stare greeted me, irises so dark they were lost within themselves. It had the charm of some lowly animal, flat and sad. I blinked at the fresh cyber-black X across his hand. He was a Rattus(3) for the day. He had obviously finished an experiment and gotten lost.

He pretended to be engrossed with the exam when the door burst open again. I bit my lip at the sight of the proctor, signalling the exam was almost over. I shakily got one answer before the screen shut down. Suddenly I was flooded with the emotion of fast approaching tears. I had missed one answer and it could cost everything.

"Time is up. We will be issuing call backs for the top two scores in seven days. You may leave the premises."

There was a scraping of chairs as we all filed out; I kept staring at his back as if that would give me some solace. It didn't.

I tugged on my skin tight sleeve. The alcohol stains on the black fabric became even darker in the light and the effect was like bugs smashed against a windscreen. I wished there had been time to change after work or take my Sancall pills, might have helped get my mind straight.

"Next."

Removing the visitors pass from around my neck, the two talking people in front of me did likewise. A strong sense of regret had followed me from the exam room. It wasn't because I didn't finish the last question... but because I didn't go over and see if that guy was alright.

"Next!"

I wanted to become a doctor to help people but when I had my chance I didn't even move. Silently I made a firm resolve to never freeze up again, regardless of the cost. It was an awful feeling handing over the pass. What if I never saw the inside of G.O.D again?

"Next!"

I certainly didn't deserve too at that point. I went through the barrier into the lobby looking back at all I might miss. The sculpted marble foyer was breathtaking. I hadn't even seen the labs then but I still ached. My attention shot back through the barrier when there was a disapproved mumble. The line was being jumped. I recognised the guy that barged in on the exam instantly. He'd disappeared down the labyrinth of halls and I watched as he went through the barrier with ease. He was eager to get home.

"Oi! What do you think you're doing?"

And failing. He froze but there was still something very self-appointed about the way he stood, as if he could never be truly caught off guard. A security officer lurched from his counter.

"Did you just come past the barrier?" he questioned, sounding unsure. He was red in the face before demanding "You can't just leave without giving back your visitors pass!"

The guy turned with a completely void expression. He should have left with his experiment group but had accidently strayed. It would take hours to identify and clear him. I bit my lip as I was once again given a choice I may very well regret. My decision became final.

"Where is your pass?"

Driven by a mixture of guilt, my promise and the overwhelming urge to seize an opportunity I gave a high pitched squeal. Wide eyed and appreciative I was in the guy's arms instantly.

"You came to pick me up!" I said in a happy surprise before giving a slight frown "But I thought you had work?"

He caught on quick, pushing his dark hair out his eyes, "I had to see you."

His hand felt limp as I dragged it away from his face, taking liberties I really should have thought twice about. Caught in the moment I came up on my toes to kiss him. He squeezed my collarbone warningly but had no choice but to kiss back. His level of self-control seemed almost arrogant but it still felt electric.

I finally turned to the guard with my sweetest smile. It could melt the heart of grandmothers everywhere. "I'm sorry. I told him we could meet at the entrance. That's if he was coming."

I turned back with a grin. "Couldn't stay away could you?"

His expression was completely unreadable and it made my stomach flip. It was the dead, unsettling eyes. It was hard to comprehend anything going on behind them that wasn't primal instinct.

"Uhh..." the security said gruffly, clearly embarrassed by our delicate proffer of affection. His stuck expression was quick to recover with a half-snarl, "I'm just sick of you kids bending visiting passes. They're laminated for a good reason!"

He stalked back to his counter before I was steered toward the door with strong arms.

"Was I thinking on my feet or what?" I congratulated myself, expecting he would soon be doing the same. I wanted to hear that deep, smooth voice again. So I asked him, "What's your name?"

His hold on me was less intimate than stranglehold and he did two things in response to my question, set his eyes on the parking lot camera and then fixed me with firm glare. It made me nervous. So I kept talking.

"My name is Sakura by the way. In case you wanted to know."

We finally hit the street and the way he cast me off should have made it clear he didn't even want to know I existed. He quickened his step, moving around the boarded up entrance of the underground. Trying to keep up was difficult, it was like he had a million other places he had to get to.

"Hey! Where you going?"

It was an awful feeling to finally realise he was ignoring me. It was something I couldn't stand. It made me feel like a little kid. Useless. Helpless. Unwanted.

"HEY!"

Anger was a scary thing in the human animal and I had always been a prime example, catecholamines, adrenaline and noradrenaline all ruling me. I broke into a run, narrowly avoiding some little old lady in the crowd and grabbed his wrist.

"I saved you back there if you didn't notice!" I snapped.

He just kept walking. Wrestling his hand from mine like a knee jerk reaction and gave a curt, "I don't have time for this."

I simply gaped at his retreating back. My mouth was running dry and my face felt flustered and hot. It didn't matter about all the people around or my teetering dignity when I hollered after him furiously. "No time?! Oh I'm sorry I forgot I was talking to the most important person on the planet! Who- by the way- also happens to be the biggest jerk!"

He couldn't even spare two seconds to tell me his name but that was not what I found most infuriating. It was looming over me like a swinging pendulum, the one thing civilized human beings do when someone just saved their ungrateful ass.

"You're a charmer aren't you!" I snarled, "What? I don't even get a thank you?!"

He finally stopped and l was ignorantly hopeful at the reproached look on his face. Then he smirked at me. "It didn't kill you," he decided coolly and had the nerve to flip me off! I was livid chasing after him but he disappeared into that crowd so fast he may as well have evaporated.

There was a natural order.

SMASH.

And that ungrateful jerk had broken it. Broken like the shattered rack of glasses before me.

"Calm down girlie," one of the sheep patronized, giving me a bleak grin. He was beyond amused and luckily shooed away by Boss Matsuda before I pitched a glass at his oversized nose.

Boss Matsuda rested his hands on the VIP bar and I brushed off his prying gaze by busying myself with the broken glass. Throwing the rack into the bin with a loud cracking sound was liberating. It made me want to slam doors.

"Glad it's not me," he mused and it might have been a demented attempt to cheer me up. I couldn't tell when I was in a furious state of mind. Boss Matsuda could sense my anger. On some level it always intrigued him. Despite being in a closed club I didn't resent him for it. Not even for the lack of sleep. I could only be truly wound up about one thing at a time and then it was that guy. That creepy eyed, insufferable, ungrateful-

"Sakura?"

Once he caught my attention Boss Matsuda smiled at me with a rare and genuine expression of glee. He was even in his favourite suit. I sighed, "I don't think I have ever seen you this happy."

He nodded at my observation and I continued half joking, "Should I be scared?"

"Not for yourself," he offered before another of his minions stalked over. It was the lone wolf among his herd of sheep. A man named Aleksander, quick and calculating and trusted to be something more than sheer muscle.

"They're here," he said plainly and Boss Matsuda readjusted his lavender tie, eyes set and hungry.

"It begins."

Glossary

(1) Enoch: City name. Enoch is the only state to remove all bio-engineering laws; this allows genetic research and creation without restriction. The city is heavily segregated from the rest of the world.

(2) G.O.D: stands for Genetics Occupation Division, a prevalent scientific institution that is highly influential in bio-engineering projects and is the primary provider of health care within Enoch.

(3) Rattus: People who volunteer themselves for scientific trials and experiments. Easily distinguished by cross stamps. Almost every citizen has participated in at least one trial before. Comes from Rattus Norvegicus (brown rat) the most common type of animal used in testing. Lab rat and guinea pig had too many negative connotations so this term was glamorised.